Kitchen refuse receptacle



June 3, 1952 c. BELSKY KITCHEN REFUSE RECEPTACLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 24, 1946 W lli-Fri.- ll "I June 3, 1952 c.1aELsKY KITCHEN REFUSE RECEPTACLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 24, I946 I N V EN TOR.

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KITCHEN REFUSE RECEPTACLE Filed April 24, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 c INVENTOR.

5 624/2 zezyg 7 TIA/K11 157451 Patented June 3, 1952 vUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application April 24,

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to receptacles, particularly for refuse, such as garbage, which may contain considerable moisture. An important object of the invention is to provide such a receptacle Which is of neat appearance, compact construction, and which is convenient to use.

A further object is to provide such a receptacle constructed entirely of sheet metal and wire parts which are quick, simple, and inexpensive to fabricate and to assemble.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a receptacle having a lid conveniently operable by means of a foot treadle, the lid being quickly and easily removable and contoured to serve as a dustpan.

An object related to that last stated is to provide novel hinging and actuating means for such a combined dustpan and cover, so designed and arranged that the combined dustpan-cover may be removed and replaced with one hand, simply by pulling the same from a slot in which its forward edge or lip is fitted, without the necessity for manipulation of any special holding or fastening means.

Still another object is to provide novel combined foot treadle and spring means, and additional novel co-operating parts, for actuating the cover, limiting the travel of the treadle and other elements of the mechanism, and returning the parts to their normal positioning when the treadle is released.

Still another object is to provide such an improved receptacle adapted to hold a disposable inner container such as a paper bag within which garbage and other refuse may be placed, the inner container being effectively ventilated so that moisture tends to evaporate from its surface and from its contents.

A further object is to provide novel drip-catching means for any moisture which fails to evaporate, the drip-catching means being easily removable for emptying and cleaning.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent upon consideration of the present disclosure in its entirety.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a receptacle constructed in accordance with the present invention,

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view thereof,

Fig. 3 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in substantially vertical section, taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view upon a larger scale, showing portions of the cover lifting mechanism and adjacent part-s of the receptacle and cover,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, perspective View of the hinged edge portion of the cover assembly,

Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional views taken substantially on the lines 6-5 and 7-1 respectively of Fig. 3, and looking in the direction of the arrows,

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary, .perspective view of the lower rear portion of the receptacle, with parts broken away, and

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevational view taken substantially on the line 9-9 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings, reference character l0 designates generally the body of my improved receptacle. The body may be formed of a single piece of sheet metal bent along vertical lines to provide a front wall H and side walls I2 at right angles to the front wall. An inset back wall is formed by a separate panel l4 fitted between and secured to the side walls l2, the upper portion of the back wall being vertical while its lower portion is inclined forwardly toward the bottom, as best shown in Fig. 3, to a position such that its lower extremity It lies relatively close to the front wall ll, an opening l1 being left between edge l6 and the front wall II to permit drainage and free air circulation. The wall [4 also serves as a support for an inner receptacle such as the paper bag shown in dotted lines at 29. In the preferred construction illustrated, the panel [4 forming the combined back wall and bag supporting member is provided with marginal flanges I 5 bearing against the inner faces of the side walls l2 and suitably secured thereto as by spot welding. The central portion of the panel I4 is formed with a trough-like depression extending lengthwise thereof as indicated at I8 to provide a vertical channel for drainage and air circulation. The inner receptacle or bag 29 is thus held away from the inner face of the panel l4, permitting air to circulate beneath the bag and promoting evaporation of moisture, which is of course advantageous when the receptacle is used for garbage.

At their lower extremities the front and side walls are inset, as indicated at ll, [2 respectively, such inset portions being formed as integral vertical continuations of the walls ll, l2, and forming an inwardly directed ledge I3 along these walls. An operating treadle comprising a single length of relatively heavy wire of generally rectangular form is pivoted upon a transverse axis in and near the rear extremities of the inset side wall portions l2 and extends forwardly beside and close to, the inset side walls l2 and across the inset front wall portion H, a central portion of the section of the treadle wire which extends across the front being bent forwardly in a loop designated to provide a section 0011- veniently engageable by the foot to enable depressing the treadle. The rear ends of the side legs 26 of the treadle wire are bent inwardly, extend through slots 28 formed at the back of the inset wall sections [2' and project approximately to the center of the rear of the assembly, where they terminate in abutting downturned extremities 30.

The rear lower portion of the body assembly is braced by a transverse metallic strap 34 connecting the rear lower extremities of the wall section 12 and provided with forwardly turned flanges or extremities 35 welded to the inner faces of such wall sections. Flanges 35 are provided with slotted portions registering with the slots 28 in the wall sections l2, thereby serving to reinforce such slots. A co-operating bracing member which may also be formed of strap metal, designated 40, is welded or otherwise secured at its rear end to the central area of the cross bracing strap 34, and at its forward extremity provided with a downturned portion 4| welded or otherwise suitably secured to the inner face of the inset front wall section H. Portion 4| does not terminate at its lower extremity, but projects horizontally forwardly from the bottom of the assembly to provide a foot 42 bearing against the floor or other support beneath the pedal loop 25 and bracing the entire receptacle assembly against tipping forwardly.

A portion of the strap adjacent the rear cross brace 34 is provided with a horizontal wall section or ledge 43 which the downturned ends 30 of the treadle wire project. It will be noted that the slots 28 extend forwardly and downwardly and that the lower extremities of such slots are approximately centered with respect to the vertical dimension of the inset wall section l2. The downturned extremities 30 of the treadle wire lie at an angle somewhat exceeding 90 with relation to the side legs 26 of the treadle wire, as viewed in transverse elevation (Fig. 3), and bear against the downturned rear extremity 45 of the central bracing strap 40 with sufficient force so that the reaction of this engagement maintains the front of the treadle wire elevated to the full line position shown in Fig. 3 in which it bears against the underside of the ledge l3. The treadle may be formed of cold rolled wire or the like and when depressed to the position shown in dotdash lines in Fig. 3, the cover is raised through the agency of connecting means presently to be described and when the treadle is released the treadle returns to its original position, but the cover will remain in the dot-dash position shown in Fig. 4 until it is tilted over by hand. In other words, the cover will remain open if fully opened, until closed by moving it by hand. Flexure of the treadle wire occurs through torsion in the transversely extending rear legs 21, and as bending of the side legs 26 so that it tends to return to its elevated position.

An upwardly extending cover-actuating wire or rod is secured to an intermediate portion of each side leg 26 of the treadle wire as by arc welding. The lower portion of each wire 50 lies outside and beside the adjacent inset wall portion l2, while the portion of such wire above the ledge l3 lies inside the receptacle body, slots 5! being provided in the ledges through which the lifter wires 50 project. At its upper extremity each wire 50 is pivotally connected to a lifting having a slot 44 through lever 54. One such lever is located near and parallel to each side wall l2, the levers being pivoted upon opposite ends of a transverse rod 55 extending across the back panel l4 and attached thereto by sheet metal bracket clips 58 riveted or otherwise attached to the rear face thereof near the top. Rod 55 is laid in an embossed channel (undesignated) in the rear panel to promote rigidity and uniform loading of the supporting parts. Each lifter includes a rearwardly extending arm 58 which projects behind the rear wall l4, as shown, and a forwardly extending arm or finger 59 which is curved upwardly and projects above the open top of the receptacle body to engage the under surface of the cover assembly generally designated 60. The upper extremity of the finger portion 59 of the lifter is rounded to reduce sliding friction and take advantage of the partial rocking engagement which takes place between the lifter and cover during raising of the latter.

At its upper extremity the rear wall [4 is turned rearwardly to provide a horizontal top flange l4 which terminates at its ends adjacent the upper ends of flanges I5. Such ends of the flanges l4 and 15 are covered by upwardly extending integral continuations 12 of the side walls I2, formed at the upper rear corners of the side walls and marginally flanged inwardly to overlap the corners defined at the ends of such flanges l4 and I5. The marginal flanges impart a convex conflguration to the portions 12 and are smoothly contoured, the portions 13 thereof facing the front of the receptacle being convexly curved about a transverse axis to assist in the pivotal support of the cover in a manner which will presently be more particularly described. An embossed continuation of the portions 12 extends forwardly as a continuous convex bead 14 circumscribing the sides and front of the receptacle near the top to provide an outwardly projecting shoulder or lip adapted to serve as a seat for and limit the downward movement of the cover assembly 60. The cover assembly is 1 so shaped and proportioned that its side walls 5| embrace and extend downwardly over the upper extremities of the front and side walls ll, l2 and when closed the cover thus rests upon the lip portion 14. The cover assembly is also contoured to serve as a dustpan, the sides of which are formed by the wall portions 6| thereof just referred to, the cover being adapted to be removed and inverted to permit its use as a dustpan. Hinged connection between the coverdustpan assembly and the receptacle body is provided by rockable engagement between a rearwardly projecting lip 62 which is contoured to serve as the dust-collecting edge of the assembly when used as a dustpan and which when the device is assembled with respect to the receptacle serves as a part of the cover hinging means. When attached to the receptacle, lip 62 of the cover projects through a horizontal slot 16 formed longitudinally in the upper end portion of wall 14. Such slot may be formed by a sheared line, the metal of the wall below such line being pressed forwardly out of the plane of the wall, as shown in Fig. 4. The lip portion 62 is provided with an offset rounded bead portion 66 extending along and near its free edge and of such radius as to be freely rockable with respect to the slotted channel portions against which it fits, as shown in Fig. 4. It will be seen that by virtue of this arrangement, the cover portion may quickly and easily be removed from the remainder of the receptacle, simply by pulling its lip 62 out of the slot 16, since it is not connected to the lifter fingers 59 or otherwise attached to the receptacle in any manner which would prevent its removal simply by partially raising it and pulling it free of the slot. A handle 68 may be provided for the cover-dustpan assembly, and this may also be used for lifting the cover if desired, as will be apparent.

A drip pan 80 is provided beneath the gap 11 and the front lower extremity or edg I6 of the sloping back plate l4, so as to catch any liquid that may escape from the inner bag or receptacle without evaporating. Such pan is provided with a rim which rests on the ledge l3 on the front wall H and side walls l2 and in order to hold the pan in place, the strap 40 is upwardly offset as indicated as 8| at the rear side of the pan. The pan may easily be removed by reaching into the body from the rear and lifting it and then withdrawing it. The front and side walls ll, 12 are embossed inwardly as indicated at 82 to provide a bead overhanging the rim of the pan and this bead is adapted to deflect inwardly and into the pan any liquid which may run down the walls. The portion 82 also serves to reinforce and add to the ornamental appearance of the casing.

When the treadle portion 25 is depressed, the lifters 54 are rocked through the agency of the pull wires 50 and the cover is swung upwardly by the resulting upward movement of the fingers 59. The rounded inner surface of the lip channel 66 of the cover rocks and slides about the upper edges of the slot 16 during opening movement of the cover and at the same time the end portions, designated 6|, of the flanges 6| forming the sides of the cover (and the side walls of the dustpan) bear against and ride over th previously mentioned rounded guiding portions 13 which form part of the marginal flanges of side extensions 12. The rounded guiding portions 13 are approximately concentric with the axis of pivotal movement of the cover in opening. It will be appreciated that such axis need not be accurately fixed, but that it may correspond approximately to the upper edge of the slot 16 in wall Hi.

The portion of the channel or bead 66 nearest the free edge of the cover-dustpan assembly slopes, gradually so that dust and debris may easily be swept over it when the assembly is inverted for use as a dustpan, while its side farther from the free edge may slope more abruptly, tending to retain its contents when used as a dustpan.

A swinging, bail type handle 85 may be pivotally attached to the rear face of back wall H by the same brackets 56 used to pivotally support the lifters 54. The entire assembly may be conveniently carried by this handle, which swings flat against the back wall when not in use. By virtue of the inset arrangement of the upper, vertical section of the back wall, all portions of the mechanism lie forward of the rear edges of the side walls so that the assembly may stand flat against a wall.

It will be apparent that variations may be introduced without departure from the spirit and scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A receptacle for refuse comprising an open top-container of substantially rectangular cross section having a flat rear wall provided with a slot extended substantially the full width of the wall, and a cover for the container having a flat top and a straight-edge lip in coplanar relation with respect to the top and slidable in and removable from the slot and rockable in the slot to aiford swinging movement of the cover.

2. Means as set forth in claim 1 in which said lip portion and the portion of said rear wall adjacent said slot are laterally olfset to provide clearance for increased angular rocking movement of the cover, said oflset means also tending to oppose accidental detachment of the cover without preventing its intentional removal.

3. Means as set forth in claim 1 in which said flat cover is provided with an oflset groove adjacent and parallel to said lip portion, the groove having gradually inclined walls of rounded section and acting to provide clearance for said rocking movement and to oppose accidental detachment of the cover without preventing its intentional removal, said cover having side flanges extending downwardly therefrom and adapted to define the sides of a pan when the cover is removed and inverted, one side of the pan thus defined being open along the edge which carries said lip, the free edge of the lip lying substantially in the same plane as the flat surface of the cover, and the groove being offset toward the interior of the cover whereby the walls of the groove form a ridge inside the cover adjacent the lip adapted to retain dust when the cover is used as a dustpan.

4. A receptacle for refuse comprising a rectangular open top container, and a removable cover for the container, the rear wall of the container extended upwardly and provided with a transverse slot, a flange on the extension protruding rearwardly of the container, the wall adjacent the slot being offset inwardly of the container, the cover having a flat top and downwardly extended front, side walls and a rearwardly extended lip provided with a transverse ofiset bead received by the slot and serving to pivotally support the cover for swinging movement and the lip cooperating with the flange and ofiset of the wall to limit movement of the cover.

CHARLES BELSKY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 160,995 Barager Mar. 23, 1875 170,923 Whiteside Dec. 7, 1875 226,788 Pyles Apr. 20, 1880 685,747 Darrah Nov. 5, 1901 1,225,540 Wells May 8, 1917 1,637,859 Hilgers Aug. 2, 1927 1,763,756 Casapollo June 17, 1930 1,940,546 Hower Dec. 19, 1933 1,990,026 Glen, Jr. Feb. 5, 1935 2,216,279 Packer Oct. 1, 1940 2,308,326 Calcagno Jan. 12, 1943 2,320,556 Belshaw June 1, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 2,224 Great Britain Jan. 26, 1884 119,285 Austria Apr. 15, 1930 138,535 Switzerland Mar. 15, 1930 627,164 France May 30, 1927 662,951 France Mar. 29, 1929 

